07899 054 668 
Spa House 18 Upper Grosvenor Road Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2EP
07899 054 668 Spa House 18 Upper Grosvenor Road Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2EP
07899 054 668
Spa House 18 Upper Grosvenor Road Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2EP
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Therapy for the recovery process
An Adult Child is an adult who grew up in a dysfunctional environment where a parent was an alcoholic or an addict.
Janet G. Woititz (1990), author of Adult Children of Alcoholics, described the common personality traits often seen in Adult Children:
• Adult Children of Alcoholics guess at what normal behaviour is.
• They have difficulty following a project through from beginning to end.
• They lie when it would be just as easy to tell the truth.
• They take themselves very seriously.
• They struggle with intimate relationships.
• They overreact to changes.
• They constantly seek approval and affirmation.
• They are either super responsible or irresponsible and impulsive.
• They are extremely loyal, even when the loyalty is undeserved.
Growing up around addiction can have a lasting impact on adult children of alcoholics.
Our counselling services in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and Harley Street, London can help you work through emotional and psychological issues to facilitate change.
Counselling provides a safe and supportive space where Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) can explore their experiences and emotions.
Growing up in an alcoholic household can create long‑lasting challenges with self-esteem, trust, relationships, and emotional well-being. Therapy helps ACOAs understand the dynamics of their upbringing, process their feelings, and develop healthier coping strategies.
A 12‑step programme such as Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) or Children of Alcoholics (COA) can be a valuable resource. These programmes offer structure, community, and shared understanding.
By attending meetings, engaging with the 12‑step principles, and working with a sponsor, participants gain insight that complements and enhances therapeutic work in counselling or psychotherapy.
Our therapists are familiar with and supportive of ACA and COA principles, and can provide therapeutic help as you navigate recovery and personal empowerment.
An Adult Child of an Alcoholic is someone who grew up with a parent or caregiver who struggled with alcoholism, addiction, or another form of dysfunction.
Common characteristics include difficulty trusting others, fear of abandonment, low self-esteem, and a tendency to be overly responsible or caretaking.
Growing up with an alcoholic parent can affect emotional, mental, and social well-being. It can influence relationships, self-esteem, and the ability to cope with stress.
Challenges often include difficulty setting boundaries, fear of intimacy, struggles with trust, and a tendency toward self-destructive behaviours.
While not all Adult Children develop alcoholism, they may be at higher risk due to genetic and environmental factors. However, it is not inevitable.
Therapy provides a safe space to explore and heal from the effects of growing up with an alcoholic parent. It helps individuals develop healthier coping strategies and improve overall well-being.
Support groups such as Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) and Al‑Anon offer resources, community, and understanding for those affected by parental alcoholism.
Learning to set healthy boundaries may involve therapy, self-reflection, and practicing assertiveness. It is a gradual process that often forms part of therapeutic work.
- Trust issues
- Fear of abandonment
- Low self-esteem
Harley Street Counselling and Training provides specialist private psychotherapy and counselling for Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA). You can see us in person at our Tunbridge Wells clinic (Spa House), our London practice rooms on Harley Street, or via confidential online therapy sessions accessible across England and the rest of the UK.
Growing up with an alcoholic parent can have long-lasting effects on a person's emotional, mental, and social well-being. It can impact their relationships, self-esteem, and ability to cope with stress.
Common challenges include difficulty setting boundaries, fear of intimacy, struggles with trust, and a tendency to engage in self-destructive behaviours.
While not all adult children of alcoholics develop alcoholism, they may be at a higher risk due to genetic and environmental factors. However, it is not inevitable.
Therapy can provide a safe space for exploring and healing from the effects of growing up with an alcoholic parent. It can help individuals develop healthier coping strategies and improve their overall well-being.